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Sub Continent Friends of Labor meets PM Julia Gillard during Canberra Trip
Sub Continent Friends of Labor - Canberra Trip Article and Exclusive Photos to Sada-e-Watan
Recently the founding members of the Sub Continent Friends of Labor led by their Chairperson, Mr Harish Velji, were the guests of the Labor Member for Greenway. Michelle Rowland and the Labor Member for Chiefly Ed Husic at the Parliament House in Canberra.
Harish Velji, the
Chairperson of the Sub Continent Friends of Labor said "It was humbling
experience to be honoured by our colleagues. None of us did expect this huge
reception."
"We are first and foremost community minded people doing our work as volunteers
for something we believe and love doing it."
"As former Prime Minister of Australia Hon Paul Keating has said that unlike the
Liberal Party, the Labor Party is about community and not convenience."
"Every person that we met appreciated our work that we do for our community and
each of the individual in our group have great involvement in their community."
Those who attended who attended lunch , parliamentary question time and meetings with Ministers, Michelle Rowland and Ed Husic included, Ejaz Khan, John Niven, Balaraj Sangha, Balaji Venketranghan, Amarinder Bajwa, Jay Hasour, Moninder Singh and Prabjhot Sandhu.
"We really appreciated
meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Hon Wayne Swan, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Hon Kevin Rudd, Minister for Defence Hon Stephen Smith, Minister for Migration
Hon Chris Bowen, and Minister for Education Peter Garrett."
"Each one of the ministers took opportunity to brief us what was happening
within the portfolio as far as the Sub Continent Community was concerned and
also took time to take questions from our group and raise any of the issues
relevant to their portfolio." said Harish Velji.
Michelle Rowland said" The
Subcontinent community is a highly valued and much respected part of Australia’s
multicultural landscape. The calibre and seniority of the Ministers who met with
the Subcontinent group in their visit to Parliament House demonstrate how
important the needs and opinions of people of Subcontinent background are to all
Australians."
"My continued advocacy for the Subcontinent communities in my electorate in
areas such as education, immigration, multiculturalism and
Australia-Subcontinent relations is something I am very passionate about."
"I thank all those who are of Subcontinent background for their valuable
contribution to my electorate and I look forward to continuing our positive
relationships" Ms Rowland said.
Prime Minister Hon Julia
Gillard was presented with shawl on behalf of the Sub Continent Community.Hon
Gillard spoke in glowing terms of the contribution of the Sub Continent
Community to Australia.
Issues raised with the Prime Minister were on:
-Immigration issues
-Uranium sales to India
-Engagement with Fiji
-International inquiry on Government of Sri Lanka and LTTE accounting to War
Crimes and Crimes against Humanity.
-Inclusion of Sub Continent languages such as Hindi, Punjabi in national
curriculum
-Aged care
-Participation in the Sub Continent Community functions by the federal
government
Sub Continent Friends of Labor strongly supported the Prime Minister Gillard, in
her defence of the multiculturalism at the recent at community cabinet meeting
in Adelaide and supported the position adopted by federal government.
